Travelling to Latin America to take hallucinogenic drugs: how does one do it safely?
Prompted by this...
Thousands of international backpackers are flocking to the Peruvian Amazon rainforest to drink ayahuasca tea, a plant mixture made by shamans and taken as part of a spiritual ritual. Those who drink the thick rich liquid often throw up, but then experience hours of mind-altering visions and a sense of internal exploration.
Source: Global Travel Industry News
I am informed that there is a burgeoning tourist market in Peru and Brazil for consuming hallucinogenic drugs, namely Ayahuasca. This drug reportedly will mitigate the effects of post traumatic stress disorder and similar psychological problems.
This drug is legal in Peru and Brazil, and there are a number "operators" who "administer" the drug.
But in South America ayahuasca is an integral part of some tribal societies. In 2008, Peru's government recognised ayahuasca's status, stating that it was "one of the basic pillars of the identity of the Amazon peoples".
Source: BBC News
However, there are dangers involved...
British student Henry Miller, 19, died in Colombia after apparently consuming the traditional hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca, or yage. Emma Thelwell, who took the drug herself, explains why it has become a rite of passage for some backpackers.
This question is about selecting a "operator" (or 'shaman' to be precise). Are there licensing standards that govern who can supply and administer hallucinogens? Or how would one distinguish a legitimate operator from a bogus operator who might provide an impure product or otherwise rip you off?
Also, for planning purposes, after consuming the drug, how long before you regain coherence and can safely resume your travels?
Best Answer
Opposite to @jpatokal answer, I'd say that you can do it safely on Iquitos-Perú, where a lot of people often go to do this "ceremonies" and there are a lot of places that offers this service, for example this.
The price is around 100$ per person per day (It's a pack that goes from 2 days to 8 days, depending on where you go to do it). For further information about the ceremony and recommendation here
And about which how to find trusty sites to do this, I'd highly recommend you 2 options:
Search on internet sites with a good recommendations like this or just go to the city (Iquitos) and ask the locals, they usually know which sites are the best, since they live there, and I can vouch that the people there is usually kind and helpfull.
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Where in South America is ayahuasca?
Dietary taboos are often associated with the use of ayahuasca, although these seem to be specific to the culture around Iquitos, Peru, a major center of ayahuasca tourism.What psychedelic drugs are FDA approved?
In 2019, the FDA approved 1 of these drugs, esketamine, as a therapy for treatment-resistant depression. More recently, researchers published promising results from an FDA-approved phase 2 trial of psilocybin as a treatment for major depressive disorder.Does ayahuasca have long term effects?
Over time, using ayahuasca can result in psychosis, frequent flashbacks, and hallucinations. These symptoms may occur for months or even years after using the drug. This condition is known as persistent psychosis. Moreover, it is more common in individuals with a history of psychological problems.How does ayahuasca affect the brain?
That's because brain scans have shown that ayahuasca increases the neural activity in the brain's visual cortex, as well as its limbic system \u2013 the region deep inside the medial temporal lobe that's responsible for processing memories and emotion.Could Psychedelic Drugs Be A Cure For Depression? | TODAY
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